GBV TechCamp

The United States and India are partnering in many areas to improve bilateral relations and bring our countries closer together. The U.S.-India partnership extends beyond only government-to-government relations to include business-to-business and people-to-people ties. One phenomenon that is deterring tourists and exchange students from coming to India, according to media reports is the threat of Gender-based Violence (GBV) against women. There have been several high-profile cases of GBV in India that include both Indian and foreign victims. Coverage of these cases has appeared in international media and become a topic of discussion in the United States, including among the academic community and lawmakers. In order to change attitudes and improve women’s safety, Indian NGOs increasingly are turning to online tools to create offline change. There are a handful of GBV-focused groups leading the use of Internet platforms to create crowd-sourced maps, blogs, and online campaigns. In order to expand digital literacy for NGOs working in the GBV sphere and make their work more effective, U.S. Consulate General Mumbai will hold a “GBV TechCamp” that will bring together technologists and women’s activists in a workshop format. The TechCamp will train participants on the different ways they can use online tools to promote women’s safety, raise awareness, and change attitudes. (please refer full announcement for more details)